ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A new hotel is the latest addition to the Paseo Del Norte business corridor.

The SpringHill Suites by Marriott opened on Wednesday, with the front desk crew enthusiastically checking in its first guests by the noon hour.

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The highly visible 94-suite property, at 5910 Holly NE, will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Paseo Hospitality LLC and managed by Total Management Systems Inc. of Albuquerque.

“As a brand opening a new hotel every 10 days on average, we are delighted that the SpringHill Suites Albuquerque North/Journal Center is the latest addition to our growing number of properties across the United States and Canada,” said Callette Nielsen, vice president and global brand manager of SpringHill Suites.

Construction on the $10 million four-story hotel began nearly 18 months ago. General contractor was Sundaram Builders Inc., and the architect was Butterfield and Associates.

The business eventually will provide about 40 full and part-time jobs. Now the staff numbers 25, working mainly in housekeeping, at the front desk, in maintenance, food service and as breakfast hosts and hostesses. Guests are welcome each morning to partake of complimentary fresh fruit, steel cut oatmeal, cold cuts, cheeses and plenty of coffee.

SpringHill Suites is meant to appeal to business and leisure travelers, large groups and to the more youthful demographic the company calls “more-seekers,” such as the outdoors types.

Assistant Manager Kayla Thomsen believes reservations will pick up as summer vacation time approaches. Destination retailers like Cabela’s, which opened last year and is less than a mile away from SpringHill, have also been known to attract tourists looking to overnight at local hotels. More than half of Cabela’s customers come from more than 100 miles, according to a company spokesman.

The hotel’s prime location near the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta should also prove popular with event visitors come fall, said Thomsen.

She said the spacious studio suites feature dedicated work spaces each with a full-sized desk, separate soft seating area, comfortable beds, refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker.